What do you guys think of this bike for roughly $300
Thread started by
Conspirate at 06.5.09 - 2:19 am
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/clockwork.htm
;o)
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spend 30$ more and get this one - http://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm
you will have to buy a brake but its nicer tubing and has better handlebars. plus you can get a brake on the cheap from a bike co-op
larsenf06.5.09 - 2:30 am
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not to mention the huge color options.
larsenf06.5.09 - 2:30 am
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I dunno. I think that bears (or bear-wolves, or whatever those things are) would be kind of hard to ride around in the snow. I also think that bringing a sword to a gunfight is probably not such a hot idea, but what do I know?
nathansnider06.5.09 - 2:40 am
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I dunno....
The guy in the foreground has a fat keg of beer, and the other dude has an accordian.
Sounds like a party to me.
TheDude responding to a
comment by nathansnider
06.5.09 - 3:27 am
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TheDude says:
"The guy in the foreground has a fat keg of beer, and the other dude has an accordian.
Sounds like a party to me."
Sounds like a party at the Hulk Lab after SMCM
jonnyboy responding to a
comment by TheDude
06.5.09 - 3:42 am
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if you don't mind me asking, what makes the handlebars and the tubing better? i don't understand much about bikes yet, although i am learning it would be nice to know.
i really like the color purple too. i was thinking of just getting the windsor in black and covering the logo with electrical tape = all black. but fucking purple is chill as a motherfucker.
however, it doesn't have any brakes as you noticed. i really think i wanted a front and a rear brake. is the frame drilled for both? or only one. and how much do you think it would cost to get a good brake normally? i guess i would be multiplying that by two.
thanks.
Conspirate responding to a
comment by larsenf
06.5.09 - 11:36 am
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the frame is drilled for both.
the kilo is made of reynolds 531 tubing while the windsor is 4130 cromoly, which is what they make bmx frames out of. very heavy and fucking stupid for a bike like that. the only thing that differs between the two bikes are the frames, the tires, wheels, seat, etc are all the same.
ruinedbyidiots06.5.09 - 11:39 am
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ah so the mercier is a lot lighter?
i'm planning on holding to this bike forever, at least all the way through college. so i can definitely justify spending an extra 100 for a nicer frame if it's going to be worth it, i don't mind. i was trying to find the weight difference between the two.
my friend was going to get the windsor clockwork without any research. i couldn't make any sense of it, but i was hoping you guys could haha. thanks a lot, all comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Conspirate06.5.09 - 11:49 am
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i dont know about lighter, but reynolds tubing is what actual track bikes were made out of in the 70s and 80s before they moved to stupid aluminum and carbon aerodynamic crap.
steel is real, cromoly is a joke.
ruinedbyidiots06.5.09 - 12:03 pm
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I think it sux cause you lost ur teeths on ur BMX bike, yeah?
User106.5.09 - 12:27 pm
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The approximate alloying composition of 531 tubing is 1.5% Mn, 0.25% Mo, 0.35% C, and is similar to the old British BS970 En 16/18 steel. Its mechanical properties and response to heat-treatment are broadly similar to the AISI 4130 standard alloy steel, also used for bicycle frames, among other applications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_531
User1 responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
06.5.09 - 12:39 pm
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actually the bike is made of reynolds 520 which is 4130 that has be butted and shaped by reynolds so its stronger and lighter. same steel but made into better tubes.
as far as brakes go
you only need the front one especially since its fixed gear. the handlebars on the clockwork are ugly ergo bars unlike the kilo tt which has smooth drops. just get a cheap little bmx brake lever like
this and a brake from a co-op.
larsenf responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
06.5.09 - 12:43 pm
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wait, so you really don't see any advantage to getting front AND rear brakes?
hmmm... yes, the handlebars do like nicer. before i go and make such a purchase, i do wonder if anyone has an opinion on this matter.
i was thinkin of gettin the windsor clockwork in black and just tape over the logo with black electrical tape, but now i'm thinkin of the mercier in purple...
Conspirate06.6.09 - 2:05 pm
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Bikes at similar price points will probably be of similar quality. Sure one will be better but probably not by much. You get what you pay for. That being said buy the one that comes in the color you like.
sc_nomad06.6.09 - 5:09 pm
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the kilo has lighter frame, more aggressive geometry (i am guessing, need to 2x check), prettier (subjective) fork. i think the windsor clockwork might actually have better wheels though.
tfunk40806.6.09 - 6:44 pm
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read the article i sent you. if you want to get really technical a rear brake's useless added weight would increase your stopping distance. dont worry about taping over the logo, they all are just stickers and come off!
larsenf responding to a
comment by Conspirate
06.7.09 - 4:09 am
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stop fucking around and get the kilo.
the purple looks nice as fuck in person too.
monovsstereo06.7.09 - 8:09 am
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Really? The kilo's shit is easy to take off?
Hmm..... good to know.
imachynna responding to a
comment by larsenf
06.8.09 - 12:06 am
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don't listen to larsen, the kilo's decals (as with all BD bikes) are underneath the clearcoat and do not just peel off.
tfunk408 responding to a
comment by imachynna
06.8.09 - 2:14 am
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tis true...
my dad just recently purchased the Clockwork and was bummed on the lettering so he just masked it off and applied some high gloss spray paint then clear-coat, which covered the black frame just fine.
Also, for the extra cash the Kilo TT is the right choice (not to mention some nice color choices) Just make sure you research the sizing since they measure the stand-over height differently.
tiGRReagle06.8.09 - 2:40 am
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i was mistaken. it is possible to find the kilo tt frame new without logos on ebay and bikeisland.com
larsenf responding to a
comment by tfunk408
06.8.09 - 2:41 am
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Damn it. Yeah, I've seen those, but I'd rather buy a complete bike at this point....
Gah ugly decals...
imachynna06.8.09 - 7:38 am
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fuckin' decals.
so yeah, due to the sizing i'm going to have to go in-person and get measured i guess. i was thinkin, should i go around bike co-ops looking for used bikes? or should i just take the plunge and order online.
and fucking ugly decals. shit. what the hell is wrong with the world. so i'm thinking now of getting black, just so i can easily tape em over. oh but the kilo has multiple decals, even near the front wheel. the clockwork has a lot less.
also, my dad is making me get both front and rear brakes. he is going to subsidize the purchase (quite nice of him, eh?) so i cannot disobey. perhaps then, getting the clockwork makes more logical sense. but then again, i hate logic (and i got an a in it too, irony).
so i hate to be bumping this thread once again. not really. but well, if i were to get the two brake hand lever things, i wonder, how much it would cost in total to get two brake systems installed as well. it really seems to be the path of least resistance to just order the windsor.
good day to all of you.
Conspirate06.11.09 - 1:10 pm
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The Motobecane Messenger comes with 2 Tektro brakes installed, so that might be an option, as you wouldn't have to pay extra for them. (It's got brazeons for the rear brake if you're thinking about taking the rear brake off in the future.)
Go try out a few bikes at the bike shop to see what size you need (seat tube and top tube length), then get online and see which bikesdirect bikes match.
JB responding to a
comment by Conspirate
06.11.09 - 2:46 pm
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if i recall correctly
decals are stickers.
very similar to tape, which can be removed with minimal effort.
Yeah.
gac responding to a
comment by Conspirate
06.11.09 - 2:53 pm
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You are right, but there is maximum effort when those stickers are placed under a clearcoat.
imachynna responding to a
comment by gac
06.11.09 - 3:26 pm
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I took the plunge and bought the Kilo TT. It comes Monday.
imachynna responding to a
comment by Conspirate
06.11.09 - 3:26 pm
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what colour? i was thinkin of purple myself... did you pick GREEN by any chance?!
Conspirate responding to a
comment by imachynna
06.11.09 - 6:49 pm
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No, I got black. I know someone who has a green one though.
imachynna responding to a
comment by Conspirate
06.11.09 - 9:38 pm
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Black huh? Good colour.
But what you planning on doing to all dem ugly white decals. They're EVERYWHERE!!!
Conspirate06.11.09 - 9:49 pm
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Here is a black kilo tt that looks super clean, maybe a way to go?
2zRescue06.11.09 - 9:59 pm
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I don't know what I'm gonna do about the ugly ass decals. I've been searching online for a way to remove them, but I haven't found anything. I'm thinking maybe a razorblade. I don't want to add electrical tape all over it.
imachynna06.11.09 - 10:04 pm
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I also don't feel like getting it sanded and repainted. Waste of money, I think!
imachynna06.11.09 - 10:04 pm
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i find myself COMPLETELY IN ACCORDANCE with your beliefs.
and 2zrescue, that looks pretty nice. i'm not a fan of extreme contrast, but yeah plain and simple definitely the way to go.
i would get it in purp only if there was an easy way to paint it over, but purple is probably a lot more difficult than black to do that, heh?
and chyna, if you do figure out a good way, let me know. perhaps we can become kilo-kin. remove our corporate labels and live life like beautiful monkeys in the forest of existence, the way it was ought to be.
Conspirate responding to a
comment by imachynna
06.12.09 - 12:48 am
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oh good heavens. it appears i entered your name incorrectly. how silly of i.
Conspirate06.12.09 - 12:52 am
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that hendrix image is awesome!
coldcut responding to a
comment by Conspirate
06.12.09 - 12:52 am
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i'm not a droid, by the way. 100% monkey. charlie darwin, i'm the real deal. or at least that is what i've been programmed to believe.
i take it you are too. but you can't disprove i'm not a robot, can you?
Conspirate06.12.09 - 12:59 am
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or some weird overgrown ladybug thing with plastic lips.
Conspirate06.12.09 - 1:01 am
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I can't disprove you, but I'll believe you since I'm a monkey and I love.
imachynna responding to a
comment by Conspirate
06.12.09 - 1:03 am
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Your argument is...irrational, but in a perfectly rational way. How strangely... human. Can this be? Is this what it means to love?
*My robot hands... my robot arms... my robot mind. What has happened to you, E-104! You used to be such a magnificent, stoic droid. Testing the electrical charge of trans-galactic lazers and ones and zeros were all that mattered to you. But you have caught a fatal virus- your central processing unit has been corrupted by the sweet fallible fruit of human knowledge. And now, knowing what it truly means to live, you are no longer machine. You are a conscious mind. You are.... HUMAN!*
Conspirate responding to a
comment by imachynna
06.12.09 - 1:15 am
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it is time to be an android not a man.
It's been years, since middle school but that was definitely one of my favorite songs by them. i mean, just alone that mindblowing guitar solo. those two beautiful notes. fuuuuuuuck.
Conspirate responding to a
comment by coldcut
06.12.09 - 1:23 am
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-->
Ridazz Roulette!
Beautiful monkeys? I am ready.
No worries!